Epigraphia Indica Vol 28

SR No.: 032582
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1949
Total Pages: 526
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 31 MB

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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXVIII
by the Kalinga forces. Mandara has been identified by scholars with Garh Mandaran and Aranıya with Arambag both in the Hoogly District of West Bengal. Verse 31 speaks of the heaps of gold that the Ganga king used to grant to the people in distress and of the burning of the capitals of his enemies. Verse 32 says that Chōdaganga reigned for 70 years. We know that Anantavarman Chodaganga was crowned in the Saka year 999 (17th February 1078 A.C.), although he may have actually occupied the throne sometime earlier after his father's death, and, as we shall presently see, his immediate successor was crowned in Saka 1069 (1147-48 A.C.). Thus Chōdaganga actually ruled for 70 years between Saka 999 and 1069 (1078-1147 A.C.). Verse 33 refers to Chōdaganga's queen Kasturikāmōdini and the next three verses to his son Kāmārṇava alias Kumāra from that queen. Verse 37 says that Kämärṇava's coronation took place in the Saka year measured by the Nandas (9), the seasons (6), the sky (zero) and chitra which is a mistake for chandra meaning the moon (1). According to the dictum quoted before, this date comes to Saka 1069. It has to be pointed out that the same verse, as quoted in the later records of the family, reads vēda (4) instead of nanda (9). Consequently it was so long believed by scholars that the coronation of Kämärnava took place in Saka 1064 possibly as a regent and that his extremely old father may have arranged then to transfer the active duties of kingship to him. Since the record under discussion is the earliest document containing the verse giving the date of Kämärṇava's coronation, it appears that the original reading was nanda which was later made veda by an error of one of the copyists. The suggestion is again supported by the fact that the latest recorded date found in the epigraphs of Chōdaganga's time is Saka 1069 and that the earliest record of his successor Kämärṇava is dated in Saka 1070. Verse 41 refers to a ceremony of the Hiranyagarbha mahādāna performed by king Kämärṇava and verse 43 says that he ruled for ten years, i.e., during Saka 1069-78 (1147-1156 A.C.).
Verses 44-45 speak of Indira who was the daughter of a king of the solar dynasty and was another queen of Anantavarman Chodaganga. Indira's father, mention ed as a king, cannot be satisfactorily identified. Verse 46 introduces the king of kings Raghava who was the son of Chodaganga by Indira. King Raghava's glory is described in verses 47-52. His claim of the status of a Brāhmaṇa is probably suggested by his comparison with Parasurama in verse 49. Verse 52 says that Raghava ruled for fifteen years, i.e., during Saka 1078-1092 (1156-1170 A.C.).
Verse 53 introduces king Rajaraja II, another son of Anantavarman Chōdaganga by the queen Chandralekha. The next five verses describe the glory of king Rajaraja II who is said in verso 58 to have ruted for twenty-five years. This has to be regarded as the number of Aika years which, deducting according to rule the first, sixth, sixteenth and twentieth years, would be equal to twenty-one actual years. Consequently the king actually ruled in Saka 1092-1112 (1170-90 A.C.). The following five verses (verses 59-63) deal with Ra jaraja's younger brother and successor Aniyankabhima (Anankabhima or Anangabhima II) who is said, in verse 63, to have reigned for ten years, which, regarded as Anka years, would be equal to eight ordinary years. This king therefore ruled in Saka 1112-19 (1190-97 A.C.). Verse 64 introduces Vaghalladevi, chief queen of Anangabhima II, and the next verse king Rājarāja III who was the son of Anangabhima II
1 Ray, op. cit., p. 360; History of Bengal, Dacea University, Vol. 1, p. 168.
2 Bhandarkar, List, No. 1099.
Ray, op. cit., p. 469.
Thid., pp. 467-68, 472.
The use of the Aika reckoning is known from the time of Chōdaganga; but, in mentioning the number of years in a reign in the introductory part of the genealogy in later imperial Ganga records, it is introduced here for the first time. According to the rules, established by M. Chakravarti (J. A. S. B., 1903, p. 100), (1) 1 and all figures ending in 0 and 6 (except 10) should be omitted from the actual years to get the number of Anka years; (2) the last Aika year of one king and the first of his successor fell in the same year; and (3) the year begins on Bhadrapada sudi 12.